7 Most Exclusive Credit Cards For Hong Kong's Elite

Some credit cards are a great deal more than just a handy way to pay for things. These are the cards you can’t just walk into a branch and ask for: Hong Kong’s most elite credit cards tend to have strict qualification criteria, in some cases they cost quite a bit of money, and several of them are by invitation only. Obviously, for that, you get a lot of benefits, ranging from concierge services to travel offers to generous reward programmes—so make sure you use that plastic regularly, or you won’t properly enjoy the benefits.

Photo: Courtesy of American Express

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American Express Centurion Card

Universally known as the Black Card, this is the one plus ultra of exclusive credit cards. It’s available by invitation only, and that invitation is extended to a very small number of people, who shell out a hefty HK$38,800 a year for the privilege. There’s no limit how much you can spend on it, while the other benefits are seriously impressive.

To find out precisely what they are you’ll need to be invited to apply for one, as American Express doesn’t make the information public, but they definitely include a concierge service, free flights, free flight upgrades and free nights at a fairly preposterous range of hotels.

Citi Ultima Card

Another super-exclusive, by-invitation-only piece of plastic, this costs a cool HK$23,800 a year. That buys access to a Lifestyle Relationship Manager, ie a concierge service, as well as extremely good travel benefits including free flights, free third hotel nights and yacht charter deals.

Standard Chartered Priority Banking Credit Card

The selling point of this card is that the Priority Banking 360° Rewards scheme doesn’t only apply to your spending, although double points are available on local spending and triple on overseas; it also awards you points based on your overall account balance. It offers lounge access via Priority Pass, big airport limo discounts and insurance up to US$1 million. There’s no annual fee, but an annual income requirement of HK$500,000.

Hang Seng Visa Infinite Card

With no spending limit, this one also offers interest-free credit on local purchases. In addition to six times rewards on overseas and online spending, it includes a concierge service and access to private members’ clubs. Travel benefits include Priority Pass lounge access, heavy airport limo discounts, and travel insurance coverage of up to HK$7.8 million.

Dah Sing VIP Banking Visa Infinite Card

With a high spending limit and no annual fee, this card is by invitation only. It offers up to three times points on both credit card spending and certain investment and insurance payments, while users of particular wealth management services can get up to 1.2 million bonus points quarterly. There’s also a concierge service, private club access, lounges through Priority Pass, discounted airport limos and travel insurance coverage of up to HK$7.8 million per person or HK$15.6 million per family.

Citi Prestige Card

Travel is also the big selling point of this card, a more accessible Citi option—although, with an annual income requirement of HK$600,000 and an annual fee of HK$2,500, only slightly so. It offers double points locally and triple points overseas, plus free fourth hotel nights, access to 2,400 golf courses, more than 700 hotels and airport lounges through Priority Pass.

American Express Platinum Card

A slightly more democratic Amex it might be, but this one still costs HK$7,800 a year. It features membership of the Rewards Turbo Program; a concierge service; access to airport lounges worldwide via Priority Pass, including a dedicated lounge at Hong Kong International Airport; and privileges with a large range of five-star hotel groups. The card also comes in a Peninsula co-branded version, which is harder to get, and comes with special deals from the hotel group including free second nights.